Search form

Harleen Gambhir

Position:

Non-Resident Counterterrorism Fellow

Harleen Gambhir is a Non-Resident Counterterrorism Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War. She focuses on the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s global strategy and operations, as well as on the organization's propaganda and digital presence.

Ms. Gambhir is a graduate of ISW’s Hertog War Studies Program and has written for The Wall Street Journal (“Islamic State’s Global Ambitions"), The Washington Post ("The Islamic State's Trap for Europe") and Politico ("Meet ISIL's Most Dangerous Affiliates"). She has briefed members of Congress and their staff, and members of the defense and intelligence communities on the threat of ISIS's global expansion. She has also been quoted by The New York Times, Reuters, and Foreign Policy, and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and BBC, among others. Ms. Gambhir received her B.A. with honors from Harvard University in Social Studies, with a focus on Democracy and Technology in the 21st Century.

Executive Summary: The next forty-five days constitute a high-risk period for a surge of attacks by ISIS during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. ISIS traditionally uses Ramadan – which begins on June 6 and ends on July 5, 2016 - as a justification for its attacks and as an occasion to reorient its strategy. This year, ISIS will likely take action to reverse serious losses in Iraq and Syria while expanding its attacks against the non-Muslim world in an attempt to spark an apocalyptic total war. ISIS is still operationally capable in its core terrain and stands poised to expand its operations over the next six weeks, particularly in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. This forecast will outline the most likely and most dangerous targets that ISIS may seek to operate against during Ramadan. See the full report here.